Techniques for mitigating dominant frequency imparted to object

ABSTRACT

A spring supported tray for mitigating a dominant frequency imparted thereto is provided. The spring supported tray includes a tray including a topside and underside, and configured to support an object on the topside, and N springs supporting the tray, N being a positive integer. A first end of each of the N springs is disposed at the underside of the tray. A second end of each of the N springs is disposed so as to receive vibrational motion imparted to the second end of each of the N springs f dom  a source of the vibrational motion, the vibrational motion having a dominant undesired frequency f dom . Each of the N springs has a spring constant k defined by the equation: 
     
       
         
           
             k 
             = 
             
               
                 
                   f 
                   n 
                   2 
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 4 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   π 
                   2 
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 w 
               
               
                 N 
                 ⁢ 
                 g 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     where w denotes the collective weight of the tray and the object, g denotes the force of gravity, and f n  denotes a natural frequency of the spring supported tray supporting the object, wherein f n  is a lower frequency than the dominant undesired frequency f dom .

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.16/508,773 filed on Jul. 11, 2019, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.11,259,972 on Mar. 1, 2022; which is based on and claims priority under35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/696,748,filed on Jul. 11, 2018, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, theentire disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates to techniques mitigating the vibrational motion.More specifically, the disclosure relates to techniques for mitigatingthe vibrational motion by mitigating a dominant frequency imparted to anobject.

2. Description of Related Art

Certain objects may experience detrimental effects when subjected tovibrational motion. Thus, there is a need for techniques for mitigatingthe vibrational motion.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination hasbeen made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentionedproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to providetechniques for mitigating vibrational motion.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide techniques for mitigatingvibrational motion by mitigating a dominant frequency imparted to anobject.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure is to provide techniques forvibration reduction and stabilization of an object being transported bya vehicle, wherein vibrational motion imparted to the object f_(dom) thevehicle during transport has a dominant undesirable frequency.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a spring supported trayfor mitigating a dominant frequency imparted thereto is provided. Thespring supported tray includes a tray including a topside and underside,and configured to support an object on the topside, and N springssupporting the tray, N being a positive integer. A first end of each ofthe N springs is disposed at the underside of the tray. A second end ofeach of the N springs is disposed so as to receive vibrational motionimparted to the second end of each of the N springs f_(dom) a source ofthe vibrational motion, the vibrational motion having a dominantundesired frequency f_(dom). Each of the N springs has a spring constantk defined by the equation:

$k = \frac{f_{n}^{2}4\pi^{2}w}{Ng}$

where w denotes the collective weight of the tray and the object, gdenotes the force of gravity, and f_(n) denotes a natural frequency ofthe spring supported tray supporting the object, wherein f_(n) is alower frequency than the dominant undesired frequency f_(dom).

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art f_(dom) the followingdetailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexeddrawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent f_(dom) thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate spring supported trays according to exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for selecting springs used for a springsupported tray according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a Free Body Diagram (FBD) that models a second ordersystem according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a frequency domain response for a modeled secondorder system according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a spring supported tray according to an exemplaryembodiment; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary Power Spectral Density (PSD)distribution diagram according to an exemplary embodiment.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of variousembodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the various embodiments describedherein can be made without departing f_(dom) the scope and spirit of thedisclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of thedisclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of various embodiments of thedisclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for thepurpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic,parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations orvariations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error,measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those ofskill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effectthe characteristic was intended to provide.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 discussed below, and the variousembodiments used to describe the principles of the disclosure in thispatent document are by way of illustration only and should not beconstrued in any way that would limit the scope of the disclosure. Thoseskilled in the art will understand that the principles of the disclosuremay be implemented in any suitably arranged communications system. Theterms used to describe various embodiments are exemplary. It should beunderstood that these are provided to merely aid the understanding ofthe description, and that their use and definitions in no way limit thescope of the disclosure. Terms first, second, and the like are used todifferentiate between objects having the same terminology and are in noway intended to represent a chronological order, unless where explicitlystated otherwise. A set is defined as a non-empty set including at leastone element.

Techniques for mitigating vibrational motion may employ a springsupported tray. The techniques for mitigating vibrational motion mayreduce at least kinetic energy. The spring supported tray may have anobject (e.g., a payload) disposed thereon. The spring supported tray maybe disposed in an environment experiencing vibrational motion (e.g.,during transport of the object by a vehicle) input to the springs of thespring supported tray. The vibrational motion may have a dominantfrequency (or frequencies). Springs of the spring supported tray may atleast one of suspend, stabilize, or support a tray. The techniques formitigating vibrational motion may be employed based on selection of thesprings of the spring supported tray. The selection of the springs ofthe spring supported tray may be based on a spring constant k (e.g.,stiffness) of the springs. The selection of the springs of the springsupported tray may facilitate the at least one of suspension,stabilization, or support of the tray of the spring supported traywithin definable limits. The selection of the springs of the springsupported tray may result in the tray (on which the object is disposed)of spring supported tray having a natural frequency that is less thanthe dominant frequency. The mitigation of the vibration motions mayreduce at least one of excursions or forces, caused by the vibrationalmotion.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate spring supported trays according to exemplaryembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1A, to support an object 10, the spring supported tray100 may include a tray section 110. The object 10 may rest freely on atopside of the tray section 110. Alternatively, object 10 may berestrained so as to be mechanically coupled with the tray section 110.The spring supported tray 100 may further include a spring section 120at least one of suspending, stabilizing, or supporting the tray section110. The spring section 120 may include one or more metal circular wavesprings each having a spring constant k, or one or more of any othersprings each having the spring constant k. A first end of the springsection 120 may be disposed so as to contact the underside of traysection 110. A second end of the spring section 120, which is oppositethe first end of the spring section 120, may be disposed so as tocontact a structure 130. The structure 130 may be a source ofvibrational motion, which is imparted to the second end of the springsection 120. Here, the structure 130 may be a singular structure, or aplurality of structures rigidly affixed to each other. The vibrationalmotion may be parallel to gravity. The structure 130 may be a vehicle, astructure rigidly secured in the vehicle, or any other structure thatimparts vibrational motion to the second end of the spring section 120.The vehicle may be a car; a truck such as a heavy duty truck or lightduty truck; an ambulance; a train; a helicopter; an aircraft such as ajet, fixed wing aircraft, or rotary wing aircraft; a manned spacevehicle; an unmanned; or any other type of conventional, related art, orfuture type of vehicle. While spring supported tray 100 is shown in FIG.1A with a single spring, any number N of a plurality of springs may beemployed for the spring section 120. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, Nis four and spring section 120 includes springs 122, 124, 126, and 128.The spring section 120 has a spring constant Nk that may be chosen sothat the spring section 120 may attenuate the vibrational motionimparted by the structure 130.

When more than one spring is employed for the spring section 120, suchas shown in FIG. 1B, each of the plurality of springs employed for thespring section 120 may be substantially the same. Alternatively, anynumber of the plurality of springs employed for the spring section 120may be different in at least one aspect of their structure (e.g.,dimension, composition, etc.), but all of the plurality of springsemployed for the spring section 120 have a substantially same springconstant k, such that Nk is the spring constant of the spring section120. In yet another alternative, any number of the plurality of springsemployed for the spring section 120 may be different in at least oneaspect of their structure (e.g., dimension, composition, etc.) and theirspring constant k, but with a collective spring constant of the springsection 120 substantially corresponding to a desire spring constant Nkof the spring section 120.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for selecting springs used for a springsupported tray according to an exemplary embodiment.

The method described with reference to FIG. 2 is modeled as a systemdescribed by a second order differential equation and Newton's SecondLaw of Motion:

$\begin{matrix}{{{\sum F_{i}} = {{ma_{i}} = {m\frac{d^{2}x_{i}}{dt^{2}}}}},{i = x},y,z} & {{Equation}(1)}\end{matrix}$

In Equation (1), F denotes a force in a given direction i, where xdenotes the longitudinal direction, y denotes the lateral direction, andz denotes the vertical direction. Further, m denotes mass, a denotesacceleration in the given direction i, and t denotes time. Stabilizationis addressed in one direction at a time.

In operation 210, a collective weight w of the object 10 and the traysection 110 is determined. The choice of springs used for the springsection 120 of the spring supported tray 100 is determined based on thecollective weight w of the object 10 and the tray section 110. Thecollective weight w of the object 10 and the tray section 110 may bedetermined via any conventional, related art, or future technique fordetermining the collective weight w of the object 10 and the traysection 110. For example, a scale may be employed to determine thecollective weight w of the object 10 and the tray section 110. Here,instead of weight, a collective mass m of the of the object 10 and thetray section 110 may alternatively be determined. The collective mass mmay be determined based on the collective weight w and a known value forgravity g using Equation (2).

$\begin{matrix}{m = \frac{w}{g}} & {{Equation}(2)}\end{matrix}$

While the method described with reference to FIG. 2 may be used with thecollective mass m of the of the object 10 and the tray section 110instead of the collective weight w of the object 10 and the tray section110, the method will be described herein with based on the collectiveweight w of the object 10 and the tray section 110. However, it would beappreciated by a person of skill in the art of the disclosure how toutilize any of the equations presented herein to use Equation (2) toemploy the collective mass m of the of the object 10 and the traysection 110 instead of the collective weight w of the object 10 and thetray section 110.

In operation 220, a dominant undesired frequency f_(dom) of thevibrational motion imparted by the structure 130 is determined. Thedominant undesired frequency f_(dom) of the vibrational motion impartedby the structure 130 may be determined using any conventional, relatedart, or future technique for determining the frequencies of thevibrational motion imparted by the structure 130. For example, thefrequencies of the vibrational motion imparted by the structure 130 maybe measured through real world measurements or may be computer modeled.The real world measurements may be done by an accelerometer or anothersensor configured to sense frequencies of vibrational motion. Once thefrequencies of the vibrational motion imparted by the structure 130 aremeasured or modeled, the dominant frequencies may be determined. Amongthe dominant frequencies a dominant undesired frequency f_(dom) may beidentified. The dominant undesired frequency f_(dom) may be identifiedbased on the most dominant frequency among all the dominant frequencies.Additionally or alternatively, the dominant undesired frequency f_(dom)may be identified based on the effect of a vibrational frequency to theobject 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates a Free Body Diagram (FBD) that models a second ordersystem according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the resulting second order system may be modeledwith an FBD as the collective mass m of the of the object 10 and thetray section 110, N springs, and input forces.

FIG. 4 illustrates a Bode plot showing a frequency domain response for amodeled second order system according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4 , point A represents the dominant undesiredfrequency f_(dom). The slope of line AC is −40 decibels/decade andbegins at the dominant undesired frequency f_(dom). The Bode plot shownin FIG. 4 is constructed using semi-logarithmic coordinates. Thehorizontal axis, frequency f is logarithmic. The vertical axis,Amplitude Ratio (AR), is in linear coordinates and represents thedecibels of the ratio of output to input amplitude.

Returning to FIG. 2 , in operation 230, it is determined whether anatural frequency fn of the tray section 110 supporting the object 10 isto be determined for a given spring constant of Nk of the spring section120, or whether the spring constant of Nk of the spring section 120 isto be determined based on a given natural frequency fn of the traysection 110 supporting the object 10.

If in operation 230, it is determined that the natural frequency fn ofthe tray section 110 supporting the object 10 is to be determined, themethod proceeds to operation 240.

In operation 240, the natural frequency fn of the tray section 110supporting the object 10 is to be determined using the given springconstant of Nk of the spring section 120 using Equation (3).

$\begin{matrix}{f_{n} = {\frac{1}{2\pi}\sqrt{\frac{Nkg}{w}}}} & {{Equation}(3)}\end{matrix}$

Here, the determined natural frequency fn of the tray section 110supporting the object 10 may be added to the Bode plot shown in FIG. 4as line DE. The slope of line DE is −40 decibels/decade and begins atthe determined natural frequency fn.

The given spring constant of Nk of the spring section 120 may result ina determined natural frequency fn that leads to an attenuation of thedominant undesired frequency f_(dom) if the natural frequency fn islower than the dominant undesired frequency f_(dom)If the determinednatural frequency fn is the same or higher than the dominant undesiredfrequency f_(dom), a different spring constant of Nk may be selected,and operation 240 can be repeated. Here, a different spring constant ofNk may be selected with operation 240 being repeated until thedetermined natural frequency fn is lower than the dominant undesiredfrequency f_(dom).

In addition, the amount of attenuation (i.e., reduction) of theamplitude ratio achieved by the determined natural frequency fn of thetray section 110 supporting the object 10 may be determined.

Referring back to FIG. 4 , the line AB of the Bode plot represents theattenuation (i.e., reduction) of the amplitude ratio indicated by thelocation of a natural frequency fn of the tray section 110 supportingthe object 10 and the dominant undesired frequency f_(dom). Thefrequency response amplitude reduction, line AB may be represented byEquation (4).

$\begin{matrix}{{20\log_{10}{❘\frac{AR_{out}}{AR_{in}}❘}} = {{AB}{}{decibels}}} & {{Equation}(4)}\end{matrix}$

Thus, Equation (4) may be used to verify that the spring constant of Nkof the spring section 120 results in a natural frequency fn thatprovides a sufficient amount of attenuation of the dominant undesiredfrequency f_(dom).

However, if in operation 230, it is determined that the spring constantof Nk of the spring section 120 is to be determined based on a givennatural frequency fn of the tray section 110 supporting the object 10,the method proceeds to operation 250.

In operation 250, the spring constant of Nk of the spring section 120 isdetermined based on a given natural frequency fn of the tray section 110supporting the object 10 using Equation (5), which represents the springconstant k for each of the N springs of the spring section 120. Thegiven natural frequency fn of the tray section 110 supporting the object10 may be chosen to be lower than dominant undesired frequency f_(dom)

$\begin{matrix}{k = \frac{f_{n}^{2}4\pi^{2}w}{Ng}} & {{Equation}(5)}\end{matrix}$

Here, the given natural frequency fn of the tray section 110 supportingthe object 10 may be chosen to have a target frequency responseamplitude reduction by adding line AB in the Bode plot shown in FIG. 4 .A line DE may then be added to the Bode plot at point B with a slope of−40 decibels/decade. Then, the natural frequency fn may be determined bypoint D, which is where the DE line intersects the horizontal axis,frequency f.

If the given natural frequency fn of the tray section 110 supporting theobject 10 does not result in a spring constant Nk of the spring section120 that may be achieved by available springs with a spring constant k,operation 250 may be repeated with a different given natural frequenciesfn of the tray section 110 supporting the object 10 that are lower thanthe dominant undesired frequency f_(dom), until a spring constant Nk ofthe spring section 120 is determined for which springs with the springconstant k are available.

Accordingly, based on operation 250, the spring constant of Nk of thespring section 120 may be determined for the chosen natural frequencyfn. Here, the spring constant of Nk is the collective spring constant ofall N springs. Thus, assuming all of the springs are substantiallyidentical, the spring constant for each of the N springs is k.

While not shown in FIG. 2 , it may be determined before, during, orafter operations 240 or 250 whether damping is to be utilized. Here, adamping constant may be calculated f_(dom) vibration theory. If dampingis to be utilized, the damping may be provided using a passive dampingdevice.

Operations 240 and 250 may be performed each after the other. Also, theoperations described with reference to FIG. 2 may begin and end at anyof the operations described with reference to FIG. 2 . Also, theoperations described with reference to FIG. 2 may omit an operation, ormay switch the order of two or more operations. For example, the orderof operations 210 and 220 may be switched.

The spring supported tray 100 and method for selecting springs used forthe spring supported tray 100 described herein may be used whentransporting the object 10 where the object 10 may experience vibrationsduring transport. Thus, the spring supported tray 100 and method forselecting springs used for the spring supported tray 100 hasapplicability in a wide range of environments. For example, the springsupported tray 100 and method for selecting springs used for the springsupported tray 100 may have applicability to at least one of a neonataltransport incubator or a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ambulance.

Newborns may be transported by a NICU ambulance. However, newborns arefragile and thus vibrations imparted to the newborn by the NICUambulance can have detrimental effects. Newborns that are transported bythe NICU ambulance may be transported within a neonatal transportincubator that is rigidly secured within the NICU ambulance duringtransport. Neonatal transport incubators are typically certified andapproved, and thus may not be permitted to be modified. Further,constraints on space, weight and volume limits during transport of anewborn within a neonatal transport incubator may be finite and limited.Thus, there is a need to provide a safer transportation mode fornewborns, which are transported via a NICU ambulance within a neonataltransport incubator. Here, the spring supported tray 100 may be utilizedwithin the neonatal transport incubator to mitigate the vibrationalmotion imparted to the newborn during transportation via the NICUambulance without a need to modify the neonatal transport incubator.

The spring supported tray 100 for use for within the neonatal transportincubator may include a plurality of springs, such as springs 122, 124,126, and 128 shown in FIG. 1B. Here, the tray section 110 may be sizedto dimensionally fit within the neonatal transport incubator. Inaddition, the spring supported tray 100 may additionally include a basesection 140 as shown in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 5 illustrates a spring supported tray according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Components of the spring supported tray 100 that are common to thespring supported tray 100 shown in FIG. 5 and the spring supported tray100 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are the same and thus a description ofthose components will be omitted in the description of FIG. 5 forbrevity.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the spring supported tray 100 further includes thebase section 140. Springs 122, 124, 126, and 128 are sandwiched betweenthe base section 140 and the tray section 110. The base section 140 mayinclude a fixing apparatus for fixing the base section 140 to thestructure 130. Here, the structure 130 may be the floor of the inside ofthe neonatal transport incubator. The base section 140 may not includethe fixing apparatus, and may instead rest on the structure 130. Thespring supported tray 100 may include attachment 150 connecting the traysection 110 to the base section 140. The attachment 150 may bedisconnectable. The attachment 150 may be flexible. The attachment 150would, when disconnected, facilitate cleaning the components of thespring supported tray 100, while securing the upper tray duringtransport. The attachment may not carry forces or loads that affect theupper tray excursions or response. The attachment 150 may bedisconnectable straps or any other apparatus to connect the base section140 and the tray section 110 while the springs 122, 124, 126, and 128are sandwiched therebetween. Also, the attachment 150 would, whendisconnected, facilitate changing the springs 122, 124, 126, and 128 todifferent springs. Here, the springs 122, 124, 126, and 128 may bechanged to springs with different spring constants k based on the weightof object 10 to be transported. Here, the object 10 may be a newborn.

The tray section 110 may include a support structure to support theobject 10 on the tray section 110, which is either affixed to the traysection 110 or unaffixed but resting on the tray section 110.

The spring supported tray 100 based on the spring supported tray 100shown in FIG. 5 was constructed using springs with a spring constant kdetermined according the method described with reference to FIG. 2 .

While the spring supported tray 100 has been described above withrespect to FIG. 5 as being implemented for use inside a neonataltransport incubator, the spring supported tray 100 described above withrespect to FIG. 5 may be implemented for use in any environment in whichvibrational motion may be mitigated. For example, the spring supportedtray 100 described above with respect to FIG. 5 may be used with astretcher or gurney.

After a spring supported tray 100 is constructed, the constructed springsupported tray 100 may be tested to determine that the spring supportedtray 100 is functioning to mitigate a dominant undesired frequencyf_(dom) to the constructed spring supported tray 100. Here, real worldmeasurements through, for example, an accelerometer or another sensorconfigured to sense frequencies of vibrational motion, may be taken. Theaccelerometer data may be input to engineering software, such as MATLAB,to generate a Power Spectral Density (PSD) distribution diagram, whichmay be used to determine that the spring supported tray 100 isfunctioning to mitigate a dominant undesired frequency f_(dom) to theconstructed spring supported tray 100. The PSD is an indicator of wherethe energy in the system is located, within the frequency spectrum.Provided the energy is at frequencies higher (or much higher) than thecalculated natural frequency fn of the upper tray or above (or wellabove) the frequency of the dominant undesired frequency f_(dom) to theupper tray, the energy in the PSD should not be a factor in exciting theresponse amplitude of the upper tray.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary PSD distribution diagram according to anexemplary embodiment.

The PSD shown in FIG. 6 in measured f_(dom) an exemplary springsupported tray constructed according to the techniques described herein,and is provided herein merely as a representation of a PSD of a springsupported tray 100. A different spring supported tray 100 constructedaccording to the techniques described herein may result in a PSD that isthe same or different than the PSD shown in FIG. 6 . Each springsupported tray 100 constructed according to the techniques describedherein may have a PSD unique to the particular constructed springsupported tray 100.

As shown in the FIG. 6 , the energy in the exemplary PSD is in thehigher frequencies. Thus, as seen in FIG. 6 , an exemplary springsupported tray 100 that was constructed according to the techniquesdescribed herein, which was measured to generate the PSD shown in FIG. 6, mitigates the dominant undesired frequency f_(dom) to the tray section110.

While some features that are common to some embodiments have beendiscussed above, not all features that are common have been discussedabove and not all features discussed above are common to allembodiments. Further, it would be apparent to one of skill in the artthat variations to the location, dimensions, angles, radiuses, number ofparts, and the like, may be made within the scope of the disclosure.That is, any combination of any aspect of the spring supported tray 100described or illustrated herein either explicitly, inherently, orimplicitly are an embodiment of the disclosure.

At this point it should be noted that the embodiments as described abovemay involve the processing of input data and the generation of outputdata to some extent. This input data processing and output datageneration may be implemented in hardware, or software in combinationwith hardware. For example, specific electronic components may beemployed in a mobile device, computer, or similar or related circuitryfor implementing the functions associated with the embodiments of thedisclosure. Alternatively, one or more processors operating inaccordance with stored instructions (i.e., code) may implement the anyof the functions associated with the embodiments of the disclosure. Ifsuch is the case, it is within the scope of the disclosure that suchinstructions may be stored on one or more non-transitory processorreadable mediums. Examples of the non-transitory processor readablemediums include Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM),Compact Disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical datastorage devices. The non-transitory processor readable mediums can alsobe distributed over network coupled computer systems so that theinstructions are stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also,functional computer programs, instructions, and instruction segments foraccomplishing the embodiments can be easily construed by programmersskilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference tovarious embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing f_(dom) the spirit and scope of the disclosure asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed:
 1. A spring supported tray for mitigating a dominant frequency imparted thereto, the spring supported tray comprising: a tray including a tray topside and a tray underside, and configured to support an object on the tray topside; and N springs supporting the tray, N being a positive integer, wherein a first end of each of the N springs is disposed at the tray underside, wherein a second end of each of the N springs is disposed so as to receive vibrational motion imparted to the second end of each of the N springs f_(dom) a source of the vibrational motion, the vibrational motion having a dominant undesired frequency f_(dom) that is determined via one of a measurement by a sensor or computer modeling, wherein each of the N springs has a spring constant k defined by an equation: $k = \frac{f_{n}^{2}4\pi^{2}w}{Ng}$ wherein w denotes a collective weight of the tray and the object, g denotes the force of gravity, and fn denotes a natural frequency of the spring supported tray supporting the object, and wherein f_(n) is a frequency that is chosen to be lower than the determined dominant undesired frequency f_(dom).
 2. The spring supported tray of claim 1, wherein each of the N springs is a metal circular wave springs having substantially a same spring constant k.
 3. The spring supported tray of claim 1, wherein the spring supported tray is disposed within a neonatal transport incubator, and wherein the object is a human baby.
 4. The spring supported tray of claim 3, wherein the source of the vibrational motion is an ambulance in motion in which the neonatal transport incubator is rigidly fixed.
 5. The spring supported tray of claim 1, wherein the source of the vibrational motion is a vehicle in motion.
 6. The spring supported tray of claim 1, further comprising: a base including a base topside and a base underside, wherein the second end of each of the N springs is disposed at the base topside, and wherein the base underside receives the vibrational motion f_(dom) the source of the vibrational motion and passes the vibrational motion to the second end of each of the N springs. 